High pressure container



Nam W, 11935. P. c. AVERY HIGH PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed April 50, 1954 2 heets-Sheet 1 VENTOR. RY DAVER TTORNEY.

19359 P. c. AVERY 2,02 2

I HIGH PRESSURE CONTAINER Filed April 50, 1954 2 Shee ts-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I

PERCY EAVERY ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNETE STATES ATENT OFFICE HIGH PRESSURE CONTAINER Application April 30, 1934, Serial No. 223,222

5 Claims.

My present invention relates to high pressure containers adapted for general use, but particularly to the class of portable containers employed for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids under high pressure, for which purpose my invention has been primarily designed.

The invention resides in a high pressure cylindrical container preferably of seamless pressed steel or drawn steel tubular construction having the bottom end-enclosing head integrally formed therewith and having the top end closed by means of the herein designated combination spud which may be either electrically welded or removably bolted on to the container.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of said so-called combination spud in operative combination with cylindrical containers designed for holding, shipping and dispensing fluids under high pressure, said combination spud being provided with a discharge outlet duct, the opening and closing of which is manually regulated and controlled by means of a pair of specially designed valves herein termed the main valve M and the reserve valve R. The main valve M is designed to permit gas to be withdrawn from the container until the pressure thereof falls to say, for example, 150 pounds, as will hereinafter be explained,--when further gas may be withdrawn only by opening the reserve valve R, the object being to provide warning to the user that the container islabout to become exhausted of its gas contents, so that he may order a new or fully charged container from his distributor to replenish his supply on hand before same is exhausted. Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which show illustrative embodiments of the invention, and in Which:-

Figure l is a front view, largely in vertical section, showing my improved high pressure fluid storage container in its preferred form, showing the combination spud or top head, removably bolted to the container.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is vertical section, drawn on the lines 33 of Figure 2, of the preferred form of the so-called combination spud or top-head of my improved high pressure container, the container being broken away but showing the upper end portion thereof in operative bolted connection and also in vertical section.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a safety blowoff plug, drawn on the lines i i of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front View of a modified form of my improved high pressure container, over that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, showing the combination spud or top head electrically welded to the container. 5

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the device shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a vertical section, drawn on the lines ll,of Figure 6, showing a modified form of the so-called combination spud or top-head of my 10 improved high pressure container, the container being broken away but showing the upper end portion thereof in operative welded connection and also in vertical section, and

Figure 8 is a vertical section, of a safety blow- 15 off or fuse plug, drawn on the lines 88 of Figure 6.

In the drawings, like parts are identified by similar reference characters throughout the several views. 20

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, the numeral I0 generally designates my improved high pressure container which may be used for storing, shipping and dispensing various fluids under relatively high pressure, but the same is particularly designed to store therein a cylindrical block H, or a plurality of cylindrical blocks II, II of so-called dry ice or solidified carbon dioxide gas and in addition a bag or cartridge [2, of activated carbon charcoal,for a purpose which will hereinafter be disclosed, said dry ice H and said cartridge or bag I2, of carbon charcoal l2 being installed in the cylindrical container It, through a removable combination spud or top head 13. The container It] is: preferably formed of steel boiler tubing, having the bottom end head l4, closed in by the hot-metal spinning process. A plurality of specially formed bolts l5 are electrically welded in suitable spaced relation around the upper end It of said container I0. The said combination spud or top-head I3 is preferably made of close-grained drop-forged steel and is provided with a plurality of suitably spaced bolt holes l1, l1 adapted to fit and receive the said bolts l5, respectively. The combination spud I3 is tightly joined to the top end of the container Ml through the connecting bolts l5 and nuts l8 and to ensure a tight joint at the union l9 thereof, the spud l3 has an annular channel-shaped groove 29 formed therein on its lower side 2|, adapted to nicely receive and fit the upper annular edge 22 of the container l0, an annular gasket 23, preferably formed of gasket sheet rubber packing, is interposed in the union I9 to ensure a perfect gas-tight joint thereat. To ensure against unauthorized removal of the nuts 58, on the bolts 55, each bolt preferably has a small hole 23, drilled laterally through it near its top end at a point just above the top face of its respective nut and a wire seal 25 is preferably passed laterally around through all of the bolts and its ends are twisted together and sealed as by means of the usual lead seal Obviously, each bolt I5 and its nut !8 may be sealed separately by each bolt having an individual locking wire 25' and a separate lead seal 25' therefor in sealing connection. The spud I3 is further provided with an excessive pressure-relief blow-off seal 21, preferably comprising a copper disc of predetermined thickness and diameter seated against an annular seat 28, formed therefor in a bore 29 of the spud l3, and held in sealed engagement therewith as by means of the set-screw 30 which is screwthreaded in the bore 29. The set-screw 33 has a duct 3|, longitudinally therein and the spud I3 has another alined duct 32 arranged to exhaust the confined gas in the container II) when the seal 21 is ruptured due to excessive temperature or pressure of the confined gas.

The spud I3 has a laterally disposed duct 33, connecting the container I 0 with a pipe nipple 34 when one or more controlling valves in operative connection with said duct 33 are opened. The pipe-nipple 34 has screw-threaded connection in the spud l3 laterally thereof. A screw-cap 35 normally closes the free end of said pipe-nipple 34 to prevent leakage of the stored gas in container Ill during shipment or during the time of disuse thereof.

A pair of valves, generally designated by the letters M and R, are of identical construction,- with but one exception which will be hereinafter described,and .are employed to regulate and control the passage of the gas stored in the container I0 through duct 33 and nipple 34 in operative pipe connection not shown, to the usual beer kegs, or

other containers, devices and apparatus for which high pressure gas containers are now widely used.

The said valves M and R are formed and installed in the spud I3 whereby the usual protecting valve-cap (not shown) is dispensed with. Each of the valves M and R, is preferably constructed as follows:

35 is a cylindrical reciprocable valve vertically installed in suitable bores: within said spud I3 comprising a valve-shank 31 provided with a conical shaped head 38 at its lower end and with an enlarged annular flanged head 39 at its upper end. The shank 31 of said valve 36 has a loose fit in a bore 40 formed in a bronze bushing 4I and the latter has a drive fit in a bore 42 formed in the spud l3. The bushing 41 has a conical valve seat 43 formed therein fitting the valve head 33 of the valve 36 when in its closed position. A valve port 44 is provided in said bushing 4|, axially thereof, to conduct gas from the storage container IE! to the outlet duct 33 through the valve chamber 45 formed by said bores 33 and formed in the bushing ll and the spud l3 respectivel A valve crown 53 comprising a screw-plug 5I has screw-threaded engagement in a tapped bore 52 formed in said spud H3 in axial alignment with the vertically disposed valve 36. A copper diaphragm 53 is held in sealed engagement transversely across said bore 52 against an annular seat 54 at the base of said bore 52, by the impingement of the annular rim 55, formed in the base of said screw-plug 5|, against the peripheral edge of said diaphragm. A steel button 56 reciprocally fits in a suitable bore 51, axially formed in said screw-plug 5|. Said button 53 comprises an annular flanged head 58 and a cylindrical stem 59 integral therewith. A set-screw 53, of ordinary construction, has adjustable screw-threaded fit axially in the said screw-plug 5!, and impinges upon the upper stem end of said button 58. The button head 58 impinges against the diaphragm 53, centrally thereof, and said diaph agm 53 in turn impinges against the flanged upper end of said valve 36 when said set-screw B3 is screwed inwardly sufficiently to close said valve 3 5 against its seat 43. For the purpose of releasing gas from the container ID the valve 36 is opened about from one to two thousandths of an inch, which is accomplished by a slight outward turn of said setscrew 60, the valve 33 being pushed open by the gas pressure in the container.

Each of said bronze bushings i! is preferably formed in an automatic screw making machine and is provided with a screw-threaded extension 6|, integral therewith at its lower end. The main valve M is further provided with an ordinary type of check-valve 62, in removable screw-threaded connection, at 63, with the said lower screwthreaded extension end 51 of said bushing 3i. The check-valve G2, herein shown, comprises the valve-housing 54, ball check-valve 55, valve seat 68, valve port El, and a helical spring 38 of predetermined design to urge the ball check-valve against its seat.

The operation of the container it shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, is as follows:-

The top-head or combination spu i3 is removed by withdrawal from the container it? when it is desired to charge the container with dry ice, or carbon dioxide ice, by first removing the sealing wire 25 and the retaining nuts I8 from the bolts 5. The container is then thoroughly cleaned, if it has been charged previously, and all residue from the previous charge is removed. A bag 18, preferably of light weight canvas or other fabric, filled with activated carbon charcoal, [2, herein termed a cartridge l2, and designed to nicely fit into the container it is installed, as shown in Figure l, in the con tainer Ill together with one or more cylindrical blocks I I, of dry ice or solid carbon dioxide. The bag I2 may be installed at the bottom below the .ice block II or at the top, above the ice or in an intermediate position between blocks II thereof in the container. Next the combination spud I3 is bolted back tight in place, closing the top open end it of the container ill, and the nuts I8 are sealed against unauthorized removal by means of said wire 25 and seal interconnecting the bolts l5 as above described. Valves M and R are tightly closed and also the cap 35 normally closing the discharge outlet connection 34, is screwed back tightly in place thereon.

Instead of charging the container II] with socalled dry ice it may, of course, be charged with any of the ordinary gases commonly stored under high pressure in the usual present day 6 high pressure cylindrical drums,in which case the gas to be stored in the container ill is forced therein through the connection 33, the cap 35 first having been removed and one or both or the valves M and R opened, whereby the combination spud l3 does not have to be removed except for occasional inspection and cleaning purposes. After charging the container it with a gas under high pressure-but not in solid form,the valves M and R are tightly closed and screw-cap 35 is replaced closing the connecting duct 34.

In using my improved high pressure container it, the operator first removes the screw cap 35 and connects the container H) with his specific casks, tanks, devices, apparatus or systems requiring gas pressure to operate the same, through usual pipe connections with said discharge outlet connection Next, the operator or user opens the main valve M, on the combination spud it. The ball check-valve 55 is set to open at any pressure desired above, say for example, 150 pounds per square inch by selecting and installing a spring (-33 of predetermined, suitable design, and said ball check-valve 65 remains closed, under all pressures below lfit pounds pressure, by the urging pressure of said spring against the valve.

When the pressure of the gas in container iii falls to the set pressure of 150 pounds of the check-valve 65, the check-valve E5 closes and the gas stops flowing from the container Iii, stopping the functions which it performs for the user.

The user then orders a new or fully charged container it from his distributor, as he has had warning that his gas pressure is about exhausted in his present container. Next the user opens the reserve valve R on combination spud l3, which results in gas flowing (below said 150 pounds pressure) from the container Iii to the devices or apparatus in operative connection, until the gas pressure in the container ill is exhausted by which time the fully charged or new container should have been delivered to the user.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8 inclusive,which show a somewhat modified form of my improved container it previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive,these figures show the combination spud 13 as being electrically welded at Bil, to the upper end N5 of the high pressure container It, at the annular joint l9 thereof, whereby the use of the bolts l5 and nuts i3, shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, are dispensed with. The construction and operation of the main and reserve valves M and R respectively are identical to that above described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Referring to Figure 8, a safety fuse-plug 8|, comprising a set-screw 82 having a longitudinal bore 83 plugged with an alloy 8 3, fusible at a predetermined rise of temperature, or rupturable at a predetermined rise of pressure in the container Hi, has a screw-threaded fit in the spud It, in a threaded bore formed therein for the purpose of excess pressure relief in the container Ill.

Referring again to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, it is well known that solid carbon dioxide, or dry ice when reverting into a liquid, expands and needs to occupy considerably more space within a container. in order to avoid excessive cylinder wall pressure, to allow a void space within the container of from 30% to 46% depending upon the density or solidity of the dry ice. In order to increase this holding capacity of the container It and take care of the expansion, I fill this space, which is unoccupied by the charge i l of dry ice, in other words, the void space,-with activated carbon charcoal l2, preferably contained in a mesh bag 12. The porosity of the carbon charcoal being from 80% to and its cellular structure having the property of absorbing carbon dioxide gas in great quantities even up to 35 volumes of gas to one of carbon. The using of Therefore, it is necessary,

an aggregate of dry ice and activated carbon within a container for holding liquid or solid carbon dioxide is new.

The using of a predetermined quantity charge of these materials, either in separate charges or mixed, is new. Bags or cartridges Q2 of this material are removable from and replaceable into the container H] and the activated carbon iii has a further utility of catching and holding organic impurities that may be in the dry ice or solid carbon dioxide. These impurities may be extracted and removed from the container to upon removing the charge of activated carbon !2'. This load or charge of solid carbon dioxide ll, prepared in a predetermined quantity and introduced into a portable shipping container iii, through a removable head iii, is new. An amaaing amount of carbon dioxide gas is confined in one pound of solid carbon dioxide. When vaporized, a briquette thick by 5" square, equalling one pound avoirdupois, will produce it) cubic feet of gas at atmospheric pressure. Therefore the gas released from my retort or container it may be used for dynamic propelling power to operate water lifts, dry pipe sprinkler systems, displacing fluids from casks, beer barrels, lifting jacks, nullifying explosive mixtures in pipe lines and tanks, and the like purposes.

While I have herein shown my device in the preferred forms, it will be obvious that changes and modifications may be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention defined in the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A portable shipping container, for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids under high pressure, comprising a cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure-head afflxed to the other end of the cylinder, a discharge outlet connection for said container in said closure-head, an automatic spring-controlled main valve in said closure head arranged to permit the dispensing of fluid at pressures above a fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, and another hand-operated reserve valve, in said closure-head for dispensing fluid, when manually opened, at the residual pressures below the fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, and a common discharge outlet duct in said closure-head connecting thesaid valves with the said common discharge outlet connection.

2. A portable shipping container for storing, transporting, and dispensing fluids under high pressure, comprising the combination of a cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure-head affixed to the other end of the cylinder, a discharge outlet connection for said container in said closure-head, a combined hand-operated valve and an automatic spring-controlled main valve in said closure head arranged when manually opened, to permit the dispensing of fluid at pressures above a fixed minimum reserve pres sure in the container, and another hand-operated reserve valve, in said closure-head for dispensing fluid, when manually opened, at the residual pressures below the fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, and a common discharge outlet duct in said closure head connecting the said valves with the said common discharge outlet connection.

3. A portable shipping container for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids under high pressure, comprising the combination of a cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure-head affixed to the other end of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for said container, arranged in operative connection therewith, an automatic spring-controlled main valve in operative connection withthe said discharge outlet of said container arranged to permit the dispensing of fluid at pressures above a fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, another hand-operated reserve valve, arranged in operative connection with the said discharge outlet of said container for dispensing fluid, when manually opened, at the residual pressures below the fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, and a common discharge outlet duct in operative connection with the said discharge outlet of said container connecting the said valves with the said common discharge outlet duct, all substantially as is shown and described herein.

4. A portable shipping container for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids under high pressure, comprising the combination of a cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure-head affixed to the other end of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for said container, arranged in operative duct connection therewith, an automatic springcontrolled main valve, having its duct connection controlled by a hand-operated screw-valve and automatically operated by the pressure of gas when above a certain minimum pressure, in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container arranged, when said hand-operated screw-valve is manually opened, to permit the dispensing of fluid at pressures above a fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, another hand-operated reserve valve,

also in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container, for dispensing fluid, when manually opened, at the residual pressures below the fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, and a common discharge outlet in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container connecting the said valves with the said common discharge outlet.

5. A portable shipping container for storing, transporting and dispensing fluids under high pressure, comprising the combination of a cylinder closed at one end thereof, a closure-head affixed to the other end of the cylinder, a discharge outlet for said container, arranged in operative duct connection therewith, an automatic spring-controlled main valve automatically operated by the pressure of gas, when above a certain minimum pressure, in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container, having its duct connection controlled by a hand-operated screw-valve, arranged, when said hand-operated screw-valve is manually opened, to permit the dispensing of fluid at pres sures above a fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, another hand-operated reserve valve, also in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container, for dispensing fluid, when manually opened, at the residual pressures below the fixed minimum reserve pressure in the container, a common discharge outlet in operative duct connection with the said discharge outlet of said container connecting the said valves with the said common discharge outlet, and a safety blow-off frangible sealing means, having a bursting pressure below that of the container, arranged in operative discharge outlet duct connection with the said container.

PERCY C. AVERY. 

